Shock absorber



Patented Nov. 18, 19,30

UNITED STATES im'l'r.NT OFFICE WALTER 1.` -ALBERS'HEIMAND HARVEY s. KNHEIM, oriinw YORK, N.,Y.

A SHOCK VvAissonisiial n'"Appiieafaonfniea'september V2, 19264` seriai Nb, 133,182.

y i This inventionrelates morefparticularly to a class of devices c with vehicles.

, e Our invention hasffo'i" its object primarilyv toprovidea devicev designed rtol-be employed `on an automobile' andother vehicle `for supporting and cushioning the body thereof in a manner whereby*thejoltsand `iars resulting fronithe vehicle'passing during its travel over irregularities and `contacting Vwith obstacles in highways Awill be absorbed by yield- Vingly resisting/the force of impact imposed on the Wheelsl ofthevehicle, incr-der to pre-A vent or lessenthe shocks due lto oscillations "H from'being'imparted to the body and to the occupants. v .y n y The' invention contemplatesthe rprovision mainly of a load support which is spaced Y yabove the Wheel support ofjthevvehicle. To the -Wli-eelsiipport is fixed the central part of a laminated spring of relative rigid flexi- Y bility, and 'oneend of thisspriii@ may be pivotally connectedlto ytheload support for positioningits otherpend lto move upwardly and downwardly relative to they load support,

e or thispivotal connectionmay be zdispei'ised y y .Yapproximationl ininches of the movements with. Carried onftlie loadl support under one or both ends of thelaminated spring is Y cushioning means. v,In one form o'l' the device the 'cushioning means `is, yconnected tothe end opposite to the pivot connectionsofl the spring, fand inthe other `forni ofy the device f each cushioning means ,ispiv'otally connected to v"each" end `of', the laminated` spring.`Y Bothr spring i'villbe ytrai'ismitted to jandabsorbedby the' cushioningineans to the Aextent of aperv cent of the capacityor to theeitent of the entire pressure withstanding capacity of the r spring actuating means;` Shouldtlie pressure lbe greaterthaiif'the yielding capacityfof the cushioning means the excess of pressurejwill for use in conjunction .plied to the axle of one Aiieolfform of the device, and

`'ofthe device r ,of the cushioning rmeansai'e vmore easily then be assumed Aby thel'amiiiatedfspring 'for 'eilectually absorbing the force of impact to avoid afecting thebody.- ,Y

A further vobject of the invention is to provide al shock absorber of a simple, eiicient andA durablel construction Whichmay be niadein appropriate sizes and shapes. A i

invention Will be: hereinafter more fullyeX- vplained `with reference to the accompanying drawing 'forming apart of this specification in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts inmall the views, and Will then be pointed out inthe claims at the en-d of the description. i

In the 'draWing,1Figiire l vis an elevation, partly fragmentary andI partly in section, of one form of our 'improved shock absorber apveh-icle. f v.

Fig. 2 is an elevatiompartly fragmentary' Fig. 3 is an elev'atioin-partly fragmentary and partly vin section, o't'still another modi- Fig. 4 isa diagrammatic view showing `an of tliefmain spring and an approximationV in With tlieseand-other0b]ects,in view, the.Y

Vof the Wheels 'of a K 'and partly in-section, of a modified form of lthe, shock absorber.

vpoiinds of the action of the cushioningrmeans i' when the vehicle is subjected-to f shocks `or ars. l

ai semi-elliptic shape Which is constructed in the usual Qfasliionof a lsuitable number of spring metal leaveslltoy provide the 'spring'.

joiffsufficient `strength' lor being capable of.

properly,supporting in, suspension the body,

Theform of the kdevice illustrated 1 'i `has a main ylaminated spring l0 preferably of Ynot shoivnno'f-an automobile or' other vehicle onfivhich ,the device isusedyand theleaves 11 Y are tens'ionedtol render a relatively rigid flexibilitytofthe spring.' ,Part'otthelaminated i spring lOfintermediate its'ends is secured by straps, as l2, or otherwise tothe axle 13 ofthe Wheel and one end vofthe spring is'pi-vot- 9 ally connected, at 14, toa lilia'kt 41.5Q'Whi'ch de- Y pends froma load supportll inthe forml of one of the framezchaiinelsforjbeamslxoflthe "chassis ofthe vehicle so that the second endof the spring V'may yieldingly rmove i upwardlyand downwardly relative to the load support or beam 16. The end of the frame beam 16 at the second end of the spring is bent or curved downwardly, as at 17, to a suitable distance below thespring. The bracket positions the laminated spring 10 above the wheel support or axle 13 and below the frame beam 16 for allowing the second end of the spring to move some distance vertically toward and from the beam and toward and from the elirvedmenlberll' of the beam.

To the free end of the curved member 1T oi the beam ,1 6 is bracketed, at 18, the lower end oit a spring 19y which serves as cushioning or spring actuating means. The spring 19 is oi' fa; lani iated (uartenelli )tic sha` neextendino' C up yardly toward the endof the laminated spring 10 opposite to the pivot-lll. The spring 19is preferably formed `with` a less number of spring metal leaves`20 than thenumber of leaves of the spring 10. to tension the spring 19 for being more easily yieldingto pressure than the spring 10, and the spring 19 is curved in a longitudinal. direction away from the upward curvature of the spring 10 so: that pressure When imposed von the spring 19 against its tension willgyieldingly bend toward the spring 10, v The upper end` of the spring 19 is pvotally connected by a shackle or `link 21 to the end of the spring 10 opposite tojthe pivot 14, andthe positions of the op posing' ends of the springs 10 and 19 are such lthat the shackle`21 is disposed on an incline.

as shown.-

u then the laminated spring 10 is subjected 'to a load asa shock or j ar Which may be caused bythe wheel of the vehicle contacting with an irregularity orfobstacle in the highway on which' the yvehicle is travelling the pressure upon Ythe spring 10 will cause it tofmove upwardly. y The shackle 21 will. then move from its incl :sponding witha vertical line, and the'i'nitial .thrustfof pressure upon the springl() will be defiected. tothe springlf)` because of beingless resistingto pressure. The cushioning means :lining 19 will thentake a flexingm ovemeut yin longitudinal direction against its tension .toward the spring 10.111 accordance with. the

strain of pressure thereon until the spring 19 has move-d a distance whereby the Vlink 21 is The f in Asubstantial.alignment with the spring 19,

as shown at B F ig. 1. The movement of the spring 19 to the position indicates that itis llnder4 its maximum pressure withstanding capacity,v andsli'ouldtbe weight ofthe load or vpressureexceedthe ycapacity vof the spring 19 the excess of pressure will thenbe assumed lu thesufas l0 foneffeCt-ueH-y absorbing the force of ixnpactgof4 a shock or on the wheels of the vehicle-to; avoid transmission of the shock tujthefb'odvof the vehicle. f

I1 (2f-the device shown in Fis-2 has @bailleur.segiiellpte laminated Spena@ which is constructed of spring metal leaves 23 tensioned to provide the spring of relative rigid flexibility. The central part of the spring 22 is bracketed, at 24, to one of the wheel supports -or axles 25 of the vehicle, and spaced above the axle 25 and spring 22 is one of the load supports or channel beams 25 of the` f ame of the chassis of the vehicle. One of the ends oit.' the channel beam 26 is curved downwardly, as at 27, in somewhat a semiciroular fashion to` provide a supporting member, and this bent end or supporting member is of such a curvature that its 'free end is spaced some distance under and nearly on a. ifertica-l linevith one of the ends o'lf the aminatcdspring 22. To part oi' the` beam 26 above the second end of the spring 22 is, tened, at 28,0110 end of a downwardljl." cur-ved substantially semi-circular bracket or supporting member 29, and the curvature. o' this bracket issuch that its free end is also spaced some di ance below and nearly on a vertical line with the second end o' the spring 22. The supporting member 27 and the bracket 29 are of similar sizes so that their free ends on the saine, longitudinal plane. On the free end of the supportingY member 2T of the beam 26 is bracketed, at .30, the lower end of 4cushioning or spring actuating mea-ns in the torni oi a spring 3.1' oi a. laminated quarterelliptic type, and this spring extends upwardlv toward and in spaced relation laterally to and below the endof the springy 22 above the member 2,7. The spring 31 is composed oiia less number of spring metal leaves 32 than the spring 22 to tension the spring 31 ifor being morev easily'yieldiug to pressure than the spring 22. The upper end oi' the spring 31 and the opposed end of' the spring- 22 are pivotally connected by a shackle'` or link 233,

which is disposed on a slight upward incline because ofthe related position of the opposing ends of the springs 22 and 31. To the free end of theV bracket 29 0i' the` beam 2G bracketed, atv Bil, the lower end of a spring '35 which serves as cushioningvor spring actuating means. The spring 35 is alsoot' a laminated quarter-elliptic type extending upwardly toward and in spaced relation laterally to and below the end of the spring 22 above the bracket 29. The' spring 35 is also Vformed of a less number of spring metal shackle 33: on. a slight upward incline in conformity to the normal inclined related post tions, of the. opposing ends of the springs 22 andV 35. The springs 31, 35.- arepreferably .ot similar tension, andthe combined tension of` bothoftliese springs isI less than theftensionl of the spring The laminated spring 22 will move upwardly when under the pressure oi' a load as a jolt which may be caused `by the .wheel O the vehicle contactingwith an irregularity i' obstacle in the highway on which the vehicle is travelling. lith the upward movement of fthe spring 22 the shackles 33,;37 will also move toward vertical positions, and the ini- I tial thrust of pressure upon the'spring 22 will ward the spring 22 in proportion to the force of `pressure imposed upon. the spring l22.

l Should'ithe pressure upon-the spring 22 be Cil fil)

equal to or exceed the loadwithstandiiig capacity of both of the springs 31, 35 these springs will movev as y far Aas the vertical lines'of upward and downward movements of the ends of th-e spring 22, as shown in dotted lines at 0,1) Fig. 2. dVhen the" springs 3l.,

.35 have moved to tliesepositions which represent their maximum load carrying capacityv they will cease to furtherfunction, and the excess of pressure willA then'be assumed by the spring 22 to prevent the torce of the shock or jar from being transmitted to the bodyl of the vehicle. y f

In Fig. 3 is illustrated'a form of the device having the main laminatedv spring 38' of .a

semi-elliptic shape, and this spring is `com-Y4 posed of spring metal leaves 39 which are tensioned to also provide the spring oi relative rigid flexibility. The central part ci?V the vspring 38is bracketed, at 40, to the'l axle or` support 44l oic the wheelA of an automobile or other vehicle, and spaced above the spring 38v and axle 41 is one ofthe load supports or channel beams 42 of the frame' of the chassis ofthevehicle. The Ychannel beam 42 is of a length and sovposition'edthat one of its ends extends considerable distancebeyond 'one of the ends of the spring 38, and this yend of rthe beam bent downwardly preferably at a right angle, as at 43.' The bent end 43`of-the beamA 42 terminates ata point below the opposed` end oi the laminated spring 38,and in this bent end is an aperture 44. y To part of the beam between the vbent end 43 and the spring 38 is fastened, at 45, the upper end of a depenn braclie tifire 4.

in the `aperture44 ofthe .bent end 43 ofthe beam. y:On the other end oi the rod 48` isa 4stop v5l whiclilabuts againstfthe` bracket r46 to limit the movement of therod'48 inwardly otthe aperture 44 towardthe spacebetween 42. The headed-oi,thelrodf48l is' of such a length that its free eiidterminates at a point `upward incline, as shown.

lingbaror bracket 46, and in thisan. aperture 47 alined with the'aper- Y oi the bent end 430i the beam. .Inr f the apertures 44, 47 is a slidable rod 48'having a threaded end portioii49 Vwhichis movable j in spaced relation to and on a downward inconnected to one end of the spring 38 by a shackle-or link 52 `which is disposed on an Encircling the art ofthe 'rod 48 `between the bracket 46 and the bentend 43 of the beam 42 is a spiral spring. 53 havingits ends pressing againstV theb'racket 46 Aand against a collar or abutinent 47 which is adjustable 'on the rod; On the threaded portion 49 oi the rod 4.8 maybe one or a iiumberotl nuts 54 for being rotated to move the'collar 47 to vary the tension of the i 4s} n'ing-53 as'occasioii requires by contractin or alltmfing the spring to expand. The spring 53 atall times is'tensi'oiied for being more easily yielding'to'pressure than the lan'nnatedlspi'ing 38 land 'for serving to force thc fred 48* yieldingly in a direction from the spring 38. TO-part of thechannel beam 42` `above the second end of the spring 38 is secured, :at55,vthe uppei'vend of a dependii'igl bar or bracket 56 oi' sucha length that its` `lower end terminates slightly below the second end of the spring 38, and to the` lower end of the bracket 5GV ispivotally connected at 57 Athe second end of the spring'38.

VVVhen the-pressureof `a shock orjar is imposed ony the laminated spring 38 by the wheel of the vehicle striking an obstaclel or moving over an irregularity in a highway'thewheel axle 4l'and spring 38 will take upward movements, and the shackle 52 will also be swung upwardly towardfa vertical line, as indicated,

'at' E Fig'. 3.5

` Tith'this movement of the shackle the rod 48 "will move toward` the spring 3,8' against the tension 'of the spring 53, and since the spring 53 is less resisting to Vpressure thanthe spring 38 the initial thrust Fof pressure uponthe" spring 38'willbe deilected. tothe .spring 53. Y of the pressure be sutcient to'move the khead 50 of the rod'48 and to movethe shackle .52*

Should the force to Vthe approximate?vertical position E' the pressure withstanding capacity ofk the spring 52 will thcnbe reached, andthe excess pressure if' any will beassumed by` the laminate( spring 38 to take .upthe impactV forpreventing the shock from aifecting .the body of the vehicle.' .i o

Inthe diagrammatic view shown in Fig. 4

the Voperation of the device is approximated by'theupward movements ot the main spring 'being measured vby'inches, as Fjaccording tothej force of pressure imposed thereon when the''wlieel strikes air obstruction .andV by the V1curvature.oit-.the flexing;movements oiiythe cushioning means -ofthe device being meas- V .ured by pounds, ias G. For example,if. the

pressure of' 200 pounds is` imposed on theV 4 device the fmain spring Fv will move upwardly the bracket 46 and thebent end'43 of the-beam 1 i Vwill cause the cushioning means'G to take-- the line of curvature, as indicated at H. Ii"

four inches andthe initial thrust rof pressure:

y means never reaches the the pressure is 400 pounds the spring will move live inches with the cushioningmeans taking the line oil'- curvature, at I, and the ratio of further operation of the main VVsprin g; and cushioning means will be in proportion when the device is subjected'to greater pressure, though asymptotically the line of maXimum flexing moven'ient of the cushioning` point corresponding exactly to a true vertical line as the main spring opera-tes to assume the pressure of the Vload When in excess of the capa-city o'l the cushioning means. Y

In the foregoing description We have embodied the preferred forni o' our invention, but We do notwish to be understood as limiting ourselves thereto as we are aware that modifications maybe made therein without departing' from the principle or sacrificing anyoit the advantages oi` this invention,`

therefore, we reserve to ourselves the right to make'su'eh changes as fairly fall Within the scope thereof.

Having thus described' our invention, We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters i Patent :h

1. The combination with a vehicle frame,

oit an axle, a laminated spring supported Y intermediate its ends by said axle, cushioning means connected between one end oi." said. laminated springl and said fraine,said means comprising a Vertical laminated sprin member, aV link pivoted to said last mentioned spring member, said link lying normally in a substantially horizontal plane and said link ,beingconnected to said irstinentioned laminated spring, whereby said Vlilik and said vertical syn-ing are brought into substantially vertical alignment belore the said first mentioned. spring; substantially strained by variations in pressure between said axle a il said frame. Y

The con'ibination With a vehicle frame,

oi' an axle, a laminated springl supported intermediate its ends by said axle, cushioning means connected between one end o't said laminated spring and said frame, said means comprising` a toggle device one of Whose links is a springfmember lying ina substantially vertical plane, and means connecting the other end ol the laminated spring' to said frame. y I

3, The combination .vitha vehicle Ltr-ame, ofen axle, a laminatedepring supported intermediate its ends' by said axle, and separate cushioning in ns' connected between each end of said laminatedspringand'said frame, cach ol said means comprisingA a toggle de rire one ci Whose links is a. springl member.-

This specification. signed this lst day oiV tle} )teiiibei,A. D. 1926.

WAL'LER J, allenarsi-inni. K HARVEY s.. KoNHnIM.

tif-829113 f 

